Suction cleaner nozzle



March 15, 1932. L. ELL

SUCTION CLEANER NOZZLE Filed July 16 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR BYZ4564 ATTORNEY March 15, 1932. L. ELL

SUCTION CLEANER uozzma Filed July 16 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORATTORNEY Patented Mar. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LABS ELL, FSTOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ELEGTBOLUXCORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE SUCTION CLEANER NOZZLEApplication filed July 16, 1930, Serial No. 468,268, and in Germany July16, 1929.

This invention relates to suction nozzles for vacuum cleaners and isadapted to be applied to all types of suction pipes.

One object of the invention is to provide a construction of nozzle whichis adapted, in addition to its normal suction operation, for picking upbristles, hairs, heavy objects and the like.

A further object of the invention'is to provide a'suction nozzle havinga plurality of suction openings of different sizes or shapes which canreadily and quickly be brought successively into operative position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mounting for a multiplesuction nozzle which will enable the nozzle to be operated underfurniture or other objects having very low bases.

A still further object of the invention consists in the provision of anozzle construction having a plurality of suction openings of differentsizes or shapes, wherein transfer from one opening to another isautomatically effected' in part bythe simple lifting of the nozzle'fromthe surface being treated.

These and other objects will be seen from the following descriptionreadin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings Fig. 1 shows a vacuum cleaner of the type known as theinside bag type, fitted with a suction nozzle according to theinvcntionhavingtwosuction openings of different sizes;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view, partly in the nozzle cross section, ofthe nozzle shown iii-Fig. 1-

I Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of part of the nozzle shown inFigs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view through a modified embodiment;

Figs. 10 and 11 show preferred means for rotatably mounting the nozzleon a suction pipe or connecting member;

Fig. 12 is a part plan view of the nozzle shown in Fig. 9;

Referring to Fig. 1, 10 denotes a vacuum cleaner of the type known asthe inside bag type which is connected with a suction nozzle body 11 bymeans of a flexible hose 22 and a suction tube 21 comprising 'a numberof parts, and by means of a connecting member 14 hereinafter described.Suction tube 21 and connecting member 14 comprise a rigid I handleuponwhich nozzle body 11, is rotatably mounted. Suction nozzle bod 11, ascan.

be seen more clearly from Fig. 2, is provided with two suction mouths 12and 13 having suction openings, the larger of which, as seen in Fig. 2,is directed downwardly, and is thus located in its operative position,that is, lies against the surface to be treated. The smaller suctionmouth 13 is angularly displaced relatively to the larger mouth 12 byabout I 180 and is therefore upwardly disposed.

Connecting member 14 is rotatably mounted in the suction nozzle body 11by means of a supporting socket 18 or the like, and, together with thesocket 18, is so formed as to provide, in the position of the nozzleshown in Fig. 2, an open connection between the larger of the suctionmouths and connecting maintains closed the air passage between the smallsuction opening and the connecting member and the suction tube.

The halves of the suction nozzle body to the left and right of thevertical center line in Fig. 2 may be termed laterally extendingbranches. On the left branch shown in Fig.

2 is arranged a metal mass 16 which, on lifting the suction nozzle bodyfrom the floor, causes a pivotal or rotary movement of the nozzle bodyaround connecting. member 14. One form of arrangement allowing therotation 0t t e suction nozzle body 11 on connecting member 14 is seenin Fig. 5. Conmember 14 and the suction tube 21, while it v nectingmember 14 is formed with an annular rib -17 which engages in a groove ofthe nozzle body formed between the edge of supporting socket 18 and anouter ring 19 which is Secured to the nozzle body by means of screws 20.This arrangement prevents immediate withdrawal of the suction nozzlebody from the connecting member 14.

If the nozzle is to be moved from its position of normal suctionoperation, illustrated in Fig. 2, into the operative position of Figs. 1or 8 for the purpose of sucking up heavy objects, bristles, or the like,which can not normally be removed efliciently with large suctionopenings, the nozzle is simply lifted up from the floor by the tube 21serving as handle, whereupon the metal mass 16 (Fig. 2) which preferablyconsists of lead, or other heavy metal, causes a rotational movement ofthe nozzle body on connecting member 14 in a counter-clockwisedirection, which is sufficient to swing the nozzle body throughsubstantially 90 so that by pressing the nozzle, immediately after thismovement, down on the floor, the small suction opening is brought intoposition on the carpet or the like being cleaned, while thelarge suctionopening is now upwardly di cted. In this position, the upwardly direc dlarger suction opening is closed relatively to the suction pipe 21 bymeans of the connecting memher 14, as can be clearly seen from Fig. 8.

This manner of operation with the suction nozzleis so extraordinarilysimple that the suction nozzle, in the shortest possible time andwithout trouble, can bechanged over in the manner described to the largeor small suction openings by the mere lifting and pressing down of thehandle. On the other hand, the nozzle can be lifted from the floorwithout thenecessity of transferring from the operative position of oneopening to that of the other by simply lifting the same only to anextent such that the weight loaded side or branch does not move directlyunder the handle. Alternatively, one can wait until this side has swungback slightly towards its original position and then press the largesuction opening of the nozzle against the surface being treated.

In consequence of the rotatable 'or pivotal mounting of the nozzle bodyon the connecting member there results the further great advantage thatthe tubular handle member 21 of the suction apparatus attached totheconnection member, which during normal operation for convenienceinmanipulation is upwardly inclined, can be rotated through an angle ofapproximately 90 from its position of normal relationship with thenozzle body and thus moveddownwardly to one or other side toliesubstantially horizontally adjacent to the surface being treated, whichenables the nozzle to be put into operation even under furniture, or thelike, having but compared with Fig. 6. From both figures it is, however,obvious, even in this position of the connecting member, that is withthe I handle horizontal adjacent to the floor, that the suctionopeningof the suction nozzle body which is turned upwardly is stillinefl'ective, being closed relatively to connecting member 14 or tosuction pipe 21 and that communication is established between thehollowhandle and only the other suction opening.

While a special connecting member 14 has v been shown in all thedrawings, it is obvious that alternatively the lower end of the suctiontube 21 can be correspondingly constructed so that the nozzle body maybe rotatably mounted directly thereon.

The rotational supporting of the suction nozzle body on the intermediateconnecting member or,"as abovementioned, on the suction tube, canobviously be efiected in various manners. For ezjcample, socket 18,shown in Fig. 5, which may consist of bakelite or a I suitable bearingmetal, may be entirely omit ted. Further, instead of the rib forpreventing the suction nozzle body being withdrawn from connectingmember 14, other equivalent devices can be used, and. it may be ofadvantage to support the suction nozzle body inorder to allow an easyrotational movement by means of a ball or like hearing provided onconnecting member 14 or on suction tube 21. I

An alternative mounting of the nozzle body on member 14 may be obtainedby mak ing the nozzle body to have a sliding fit on said member andpushing the" nozzle body thereon from the front where it is held inosition by meansof springs, the ends of whlch may rotate in a groove orthe like formed in connectin member '14. Further, instead of the speclalmass J 16, shown in Fig.

' 2, one of the lateral legs or branches of the large suction mouth 12may obviously be formed heavier than the other during manufacture.

Any desired number of suction openings may be provided on the samesuction nozzle instead of the two-illustrated, which, on rotation of thesuction nozzle, preferably inthe described manner, are adapted to bebrought successively into operative position. Prefconstruction of thenozzles, such as the size and shape of the suction openings, isunimportant, and the nozzles may be provided with any desiredcharacteristic known feature.

On account of the rotatable movement of the suction nozzle body ontheconnecting member, small leaks may eventually result, through whichundesired air flow will take place, so that it may be preferable undercertain circumstances to provide intermediate packing layers or thelike, which must obviously be so constructed that they do not offer anylarge resistance to the rotary movement of the nozzle body, in orderthat the nozzle, on being lifted up from the floor, can pivot freely. I

Referring to the modifications shown in Figs. 9 to 12, it will be seenfrom Fig. 9 that the shank or branch of the nozzle body 11, located onthe right, is longer than the left. The metal mass 16, provided in thenozzle of Fig. 1, may, therefore, if desired, be entirely dispensed withas the right hand branch will be inherently heavier than the left.

As in the revious constructions, the c'on- 'necting mem er on which thenozzle body is rotatably mounted is denoted by 14, and the n z e bodycomprises'a large suction opening downwardly directed, in Fig. 9, and asmall suction opening upwardly directed.

On the front edge of the small suction opening grooves 23 (Fig. 12) areprovided which serve for picking up threads or the like, and

the arrangement of which, at this actual point has been found to beparticularly advantageous.

The embodiments illustrated in Figs. 9-12 differ from those reviouslydescribed only as far as concerns t elocation of the connecting memberunsymmetrically of the nozzle body to form an unbalanced arrangement andthe type of rotatable connection of the nozzle body on the connectingmember 14. For this latter purpose, as can be seen from Fig. 10, a cap24 is provided, which has a press fit over member 14 and is applied tothe front of the said member or, alternatively, may bebent over toengage said member for holding purposes. The nozzle body is formed as asliding fit over cap 24, and in turn is pushed'on from the front. Thefree rotation i of the nozzle-ho y on said cap will, as shown in Fig.10, facilitated by the provision of a pin 25, /centrally arranged in theend face 26 of 1e cap 24 and having one end is held in its desiredoperative position on' member 14 by a spring 29 acting against a be soformed as to'be automaticall if desired released on lifting up thenozzle from the oor when an automatic rotary movement of the nozzle isdesired, bylifting the same with a slight upward jerk instead, of with acomparatively slow movement.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a hanball 30. This catch membermay,

dle, a nozzle body rotatably mounted on said uhandle-and having aplurality of angularly displaced suction openings, and meansautomatically causing a rotary movement of said nozzle body with respectto said handle on lifting said nozzle bodyfrom'thefloor by 39 means ofsaid handle.

2. In a device of the class described, a handle, and a nozzle bodyrotatably mounted'on said handle and having a plurality of angularlydisposed suction openings, said nozzle body comprising two laterallyextending branches, said branches being unsymmetrical with "respect tothe axis of rotation of said nozzle body.

. 3. In a device of the class described, a handle, and a nozzle bodyrotatably mounted onsaid handle and having a plurality of angularlydisposed suction openings, said nozzle body' 7 comprising two laterallyextending branches of unequal weight. a

4. In a device of the class described, a handle, and a nozzle bodyrotatably mounted on said handle and having a plurality of angularlydisposed suction openings, said nozzle body comprising two laterallyextending branches of unequal length.

5, In a device of the class described, a han dle, a nozzle bodyrotatably mounted on said handle and having a plurality of angularlydisposed suction openings, said nozzle body comprising two laterallyextending branches, and a weight member secured to one of said branches.

6. In a device of the class described, a handle, a nozzle body rotatablymounted on said handle and having a plurality of angularly disposedsuction openings, said nozzle body comprising two laterally extendingbranches of unequal length, and a weight member secured to the longer ofsaid branches.

7. In a device of the class described, a handle, a nozzle bod rotatablymounted on said handle and havi g a. plurality of angularly displacedsuction openings, means for preventing rotary movement of said nozzlebody with respect to said handle, and means for' overcoming'said lastmentioned means and for causing rotary movement of said nozzle body withrespect to said handle on rapid lifting of the nozzle from'tlie floor bymeans of said handle. 1

. 8. In a device of the class described, a handle, a nozzle bodyrotatably mounted on said handle and having a plurality of angularlydisplaced suction openings, and resilient 1i? means for preventingrotary movement of said nozzle body with respect to said handle, saidnozzle body comprising two laterally extending branches of unequalweight. ,5 9. In a device of the class described, a hol low handle, anda nozzle body rotatably mounted on said handle and having a pair ofoppositely disposed suction openings said handle and said nozzle bodybeing provided with cooperating openings for selectively establishingcommunication between said hollow handle and the respective suctionopenings upon rotation of said nozzle body through an angle'of 180degrees from a position of normal relationship of said handle to saidbody, said openings being so arranged that communication exists betweensaid hollow handle and only one of said suction openings when said"handle is rotated approximately 90 degrees from said position of normalrelationship with said body.

10. In a device of the class described, a handle, and a nozzle bodyrotatably mounted on said handle and having a plurality of angularlydisposed suction openings, said nozzle body comprising laterallyextending branches, and said branches being unbalanced with respect tothe axisof rotation I of said nozzle body. In testimony whereof I haveatfixed my signature.

LABS ELL.

